NationStates Jolt Archive

Life in the Swinging Pig was slow, and in the smoky reclusion of the tabaco and the smell of spilt ale, the writers and the artisans of Momanguise congregated in steady discussion. Today was different. With the beatings and executions of the purge still hanging in one undiscussed tone, there was a sense of anticipation and hunger for news, not even news, something.

Ooc- I have the permission of Momanguise


Ic-

An operative of the Thaller Securities Company, an ex-MSAAS, and ex-SRGIO, a nobleman, about 26 years of age, a relative of Dieter Thaller, a semi-distant relative, tracing his lineage to Thaller through his marriage to a relative of Johanna Stahlecker, Dieter's wife, who happened to be a cousin of Hans Stahlecker (the family trees of the MS nobles are very interconnected)


His name was Conrad Thaller, he slowly made his way into the tavern, dressed to look like a peasant but not a dirt poor peasant, a peasant who might have tucked away just enough money to afford to someday buy his own land and not live under the yoke of serfdom anymore. Although in reality, Conrad Thaller had over 500 billion dollars to his name back in Mississippi. Of course he wouldn't tell anybody he was Conrad Thaller, or from Mississippi, that would be suicide, his papers identified him as Lothair Guiscard.


He walked in and looked around, trying to see if he could find anybody who looked liked they might be worth talking to.

Little attention was paid to the man as the circles of people carried on their quiet vigil of smoking, playing cards, and read prose. The barmaid, a curvy sort of woman with stunning auburn hair gave him an approving glance, and called out to him in a deep, rustic accent of the rural provinces. "Good day to you sir, safer here than on the streets I wager. So what is it, ale m'dear?"

He sat down at the bar and nodded his head, "Yeah, that'll be fine, thanks..." He placed a large coin on the counter and slid it to her.

Her large green eyes widened slightly as she took the coin, before pouring a large tankard. Buisiness was quiet that day, and as she gave it to him she inspected him closer. Tall and tawny he was attractive enough, at least for a girl stuck in a repetitive job. She slid slightly closer to him, "Do you have a name then sir?"

He smiled, "Yes, Lothair Guiscard, of Alsace-Lorraine." He smiled at her, his green eyes meeting hers, he accepted the glass as she slid it to him and then he drank heartily, he hated the taste of peasant drinks, but he was a perfect acting for any role, and so he could handle it. He really did think she was attractive though, if he could, he'd rent a room at the inn and take her to it.





Ooc- Conrad Thaller (26) A distant cousin of Dieter Thaller, related via a relative who is related via marriage with a relative of Francesca Stahlecker (originally a Galtieri). He is an ex-MSAAS and ex-SRGIO operative, he is very stealthy, attractive, but can’t play any role required of him.6'5, 190bs, Red hair and green eyes. IQ 162.

She blushed as his eyes met hers and she fumbled in her purse for some change. Eventually she found the relevant denominations, coins of poor material and quality. "Here're your tinners sir" the rural accent stronger than ever, before she continued in the same tone, "So a traveller then? I always wanted to travel the world, back when I was a titter. Zounds, listen to me jabber such, you'll be wanting a room will you sir?"

He grinned at her, "Well that all depends, what sort of comforts do the rooms come with? I'm a bit how shall we say, not so tired tonight, and not really planning on doing much sleeping..."


He'd never act this way if he wasn't in the role of a peasant, he was a proper gentleman, but he was sure as lovely as she was, she'd not understand the mannerisms of a proper, elite, well-schooled, Mississippian gentleman.

She raised he hands to her face in mock horror, a scandalised tone in her voice. "Mr Guiscard!" she exclaimed, "I don't know how you adress the ladies in your country, but we don't really tolerate such talk here!" She then lent forwards, whispering in his ear, "Well, there are exceptions." She then pulled back, beaming at him, "I may bring up a meal to your room sir, and that be the only peark aside from a warm bed and a night cap to ease you off to the morning."

He smiled, perhaps she was used to higher social standards than he had originally thought. He took her hand in his, gently kissed it, bowed and then excused himself off to his room after tipping her and saying, "Forgive my imprudence then, I haven't eaten recently, I'm not feeling well..."

With that, he walked off to his room.


He whispered to her as he left, "Perhaps you'd like to help me feel better later..."


He just had to say it, he thought it was a great line.

Clasping her hand and grinning wildly, she made her way back to the kitchen and prepared a stew with the little meat that she could find in the place. "Rations..." she muttered to herself as she chopped vegtables into the dish.

Two hours later, she knocked on his door. "Special for Mr Guiscard" she sang.

He opened the door and slyly smiled at her, "And what do you have for me might I ask? Would you like to come in?"

She held up the pot as an offering, "A dinner for you sir." She then bent down and pulled from her boot a small flask with a clear green liquid in it, "And something stronger that you may desire". Having given him his bread and water, she hung on the doorframe, smiling at him.

He smiled back and then moved backwards into the room, sitting down on the bed, never taking his eyes off of her, he patted the bed, "I think there might be a problem with this here bed, perhaps you'd like to come see for yourself, I think it might make a squeaking sound if shaken too hard..."

She cast a wary eye over him, "And what buissiness have you been about with shaking of this bed?" Nevertheless, she had a look, checking the joints, before sitting back up. "Sturdiest bed in Momanguise sir, this will hold one or even two bodies without a squeak that a mouse could make."

He gave her a bit of a grin, "Two you say? I don't know about that... Would you be willing to try to help me prove that?"

She let out a girlish giggle, sliding her clogs from her feet and pulling the blanket over her. "Who knows, Mr Guiscard, I may be very tired from a hard day working and just want to go to sleep, you wouldn't mind if I sleep here in your bed would you sir?"

He smiled, "I'm sure you could let me tire you out a bit more first, eh?"

She put a hand to his lips, "Well sir, I'm here now in your bed, and you then may have the pleasure of my aquintance, but you cannot do it with words alone."

He smiled, nodded his head, and slowly started to remove her clothing and his, taking care to take his time.


When he had finished with that he kissed her on the lips, and slowly slid down under the covers, kissing her further and further down her body.

She sighed in pleasure, and shrugging off the last of her outer garnments, then wrestling the shirt of him, kissing him full on the lips. "O thou art fairer than the evening air, clad in the beauty of a thousand stars", she murmed, placing his hand on her leggins, and collapsing backwards onto the bed.

Ooc- 1) I don't want to get into trouble. 2) I don't know how to talk in Elizabethan... So skipping ahead.



Ic-

After they had finished, "Mr. Guiscard" yawned a bit and then kissed her on the forehead, as he said, "You were wonderful."


He yawned again and then casually asked, "So... Would you happen to know much about the duchess who was arrested recently?"

"Hmm?" She mumbled, "Oh, she was taken in a dawn raid. She's an eccentric, one of the last of the old families. Why do you ask?"

He shook his head, "I was just wondering, just curious was all. Do you have any idea who took her or where she might be? What do they do with such decadently rich people as that?"

She gave a soft laugh, lifting a hair from his eyes. "Deary me, you haven't dwelled here for too long have you? She should be in prison by now, but methinks that she might have a special treatment..."

He seemed interested to know more, "What do you mean by special treatment?"

She chuckled, "Now that's a state secret deary..."

Conrad smiled a bit, "Well, it's just that, you see, I have a bit of a score to settle, as much as I'm not one to brag about seeking revenge, and that is why I'm so curious about the duchess and what is going on involving her."

She rolled round and stared straight in his eyes, "Wherefore do you seek revenge? 'Tis a wild justice, and like the sun on water blood will breed more blood until you are so steeped in death that it shall consume you."

He shook his head, "Tis my business as to why I seek vengeance upon those who have wronged my family and I. I only ask that you give me what information you can so that my quest may proceed in a timely manner."

She put a finger to his lips, her eyes still fixed on his, "Tush, why should my bedfellow talk like this? Was it for this base knowlege that you tumbled me, and not the love of a man and his true love spouse?"

He shook his head, "No, of course not, nothing of the sort... Not at all."


Conrad kissed the woman on her forehead, then her cheek, and then gently on her lips, before softly and slowly saying, "That, was... Not the reason, not at all... Your company here has been, most enjoyable..."

He kept kissing her as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him.

She raised an arm, keeping him at legnth as she asked in a steady tone and bright eyes, "So then, good sir, you will take me to be unto your marriage, and be your wife can the end of days?"

He sighed and smiled, "Well you see, I didn't know you would want to be getting married... This is quite a surprise to me..."


He had no intention of marrying a peasant, however beautiful, good in bed, and nice they might happen to be. He was a nobleman, peasant women were nothing more to him than things to be used to relieve his lusts which built up from time to time. Other nobleman either married early or had more self-control, that was their choice, this was his.


He shook his head, "Perhaps we should get some sleep and we can discuss this in the morning, yes?"

She sat up, her back to him as she stared out to an unblemished ring of stars, the virgin light dancing on her eyes. A single tear welled, before she quashed it with a finger and drew her shawl around her. "Well then Messir Guiscard" she droned, "You take a woman to be your bedfellow for what? For love? For affection? If you did then you would marry me, and under some gentle sky we'd while away the rest of our days while the unmoving stars basked us in approval. What you have lost, myself and my love, you will never replace that!" She stood, staring down at the man that she had made love with, "Good bye sir."

He sighed as she started to leave, she deserved better than to just be tossed aside, she at least deserved the truth, to know what was going on. So he turned and said, "Wait, don't go... I'll tell you something, if you can promise not to tell anybody..."

She snorted, "There is only one thing I want you to tell me."

He sighed and patted the bed, "Come sit down, we'll talk..."


He then took a deep breath and said, "My real name is Conrad Thaller, I am a duke from Mississippi, now that you know that, I suppose if you want to turn me over to the authorities, you would be quite handsomely rewarded, and I wouldn't stop you either, I won't kill somebody who is innocent just to save myself, that would be the mark of a parasite, a virus, a plague. I will however perhaps make you a better offer if you're interested..."

She turned round to face him, arms crossed, "I am not an item to be bidded on, nor purchased like a common mule. Speak, for you hath lied to me once, and it best be the truth that you now make."

He smiled, "Well, you see, the thing is... The thing is, I didn't think you would want to marry me, and I didn't want to pressure you into anything you didn't want to do. If you really and truly do want to get married, that is fine with me, yes, fine with me."

She pondered, staring first at and then away again before finally speaking, "You swear by the almighty Christ that this is the truth you speak?"

He smiled and nodded his head, "Of course, I do... Yes indeed." She had no idea that he, like his cousin, Dieter, both were in the Illuminati and the occult, they worshipped Molech, but she had no way of knowing that.

She stopped, smiled, and then ran into his arm. "My love, my love" she cried, before whispering in his ear, "46 Taverner Street, go now if you will."

He nodded his head, taking her into his arms and kissing her as he told him the street address. After that, he nodded his head again, smiled, kissed her on the forehead and said, "I shall return in due time, I've business to tend to but fear not, I will be back before the next day is out."

That said, he picked up a large bag that was off to the side of the room, slung the strap over his shoulder, and walked out of the room.

Inside the bag was the following.


2- Sets of Crusader Armor.
1- MP-5SD (With laser and day/night scope).
8- 30 round magazines.
1- Glock-17 with laser and silencer.
5- 17 round magazines.
1- Combat Knife.
4- Ballistic Knives.
1- Pair of Thermal Goggles.
1- Pair of Night Vision Goggles.
10- Fragmentation Hand Grenades.
2- Anti-Tank devices (powerful charges, basically a 5 pound block of C4 meant to be tossed under the tank or on the tread, it is adhesive as well, so the coating can be peeled and it can stick to the tread)
2- Fake Passports.
Assorted Listening devices.
Assorted lock picking devices and devices to circumvent electronic locks.
10,000,000 dollars in British Pounds.
500,000 dollars in Mississippian 1000 dollar bills.
And a few other DIS and MSAAS issued items.


The bag weighed well in excess of 75 pounds, perhaps even over one hundred pounds. But he deftly carried it out and then ran off into the night, stopping a ways down the street in a grove of trees to suit up into his armor (it looks like Black BDUs, that is what the Crusader Armor style he has on is) and the get his surveillance equipment ready)

A lumped piece of gristle hung on a fish wire as the soldier dangled it in front of the mouth of the duchess. "Eat harlot" he whispered in her ear, "Too poor to afford venison am I! But I found you meat, I found it for your hunger and now you refuse it?" He paced, his brow crossed as frustrated he stood. Finally he looked down on the woman chained to the table, before slapping her accross the face. "Whore!" he spat, "Filthy fascist whore! Eat!" He growled at her before bringing a plate crashing down on her head, and she hung around the table whimpering. "Now eat it" he hissed, and she did, gulping it down with a look of revulsion. Then his phone rang and cursing he picked it up. He nodded and put it down. "Duty calls" he muttered as he picked his coat and rifle. "Don't move until I come back. And then I'll make you move..." Chuckling to himself he locked the door behind him and strode off into the night.

Conrad slowly moved to the outskirts of the property the house was on, unsure of what he would find, but in his armor and with his goggles, he was ready for anything. He kept with MP-5 tight against his shoulder as he snuck close to a nearby wall, ready to dart across the yard and to a window that would get him into the house on the ground floor.

He had already identified a heat signature inside the house, and one leaving the house. He was pretty sure that the soldier keeping her was the one leaving, and she was the one left inside.

After he had watched the heat signature of the man leave the area, he slowly climbed up to the window and cut a small hole in the glass, ever so small, before reaching in and unlocking it.

He pushed it open, climbed in, and slowly and silently closed it.


Conrad quickly but quietly made his way to the room the duchess was being held in. He checked the door for tripwires and booby traps, and then he had the lock picked within ninety seconds.

He pushed the door open slowly and walked in, his MP-5 at the ready, in the event of any ambushes.

All he saw was the duchess, on the floor, like an animal, wretched and dirty in appearance.

He called out to her, in a loud whisper, "My name is Conrad Thaller, I am from Mississippi... You are the duchess, yes?"

The strained voice that retained an air of dignity sounded a responce through the darkness. "I am Elanor Mechavil, Duchess of Messex. Why have you come?"

He reached out a hand to help her up, "I have come to rescue you from the oppression that proper noble ladies are facing here. I would like you to come back to Mississippi... I am a duke in my land, and would be honored if you would join me in Mississippi."


He noticed she was chained to the table, and so he pulled out a lock pick and got to work. About a minute later, the chain was off and he lifted her up into his arms, saying, "So, what is the easiest way to get out of here?"

There was a sharp click as behind a rifle was primed. There was a vulgar laugh and the soldier who stood in the doorway answered his question, "In a coffin, I warrant ye! Don't turn around filth, lest ye feel the wrath of my bullet."

Conrad slowly dropped his gun and raised his hands, as he left a ballistic knife start to slide into his right hand, concealing it, "Don't shoot, I'm not armed!"

He then started to move as though he were going face down on the ground, at the last second, he spun around, and fired the ballistic knife, the blade flying right into the man's neck.

As the soldier fell against the wall, spluttering blood and hopelessly trying to dislodge the knife that even now took his life away, the Duchess glanced briefly up at Conrad, and then away again, only a look of suprise on her face. "Come," she said, "And we will leave this place. I still have enough connections to get us out of Momanguise, to Mississippi or whither I please." As they left she kicked the corpse once.

Conrad had picked his MP-5 back up and then when they got back outside, he took most of the gear out of the bag he'd left there, put it into the various pouches on his tactical vest, pulled a coat over all of it, and then handed her the female sized suit of Crusader Armor he had brought with him, saying, "Here, put this on."

Her eyes glittered dangerously in the darkness. "I would hope that wasn't an order" she answered, but pulled on the suit all the same. "Now take me to the central bank, and I will organise two tickets out of this degenerate filthsome place."

He shook his head, "Not an order, just a suggestion, if you want to stay alive, it pays to be armored up... As for the bank, I have plenty of money with me here, must we go to the bank?"

She snorted, "Connections are worth far more than any sum of gold. The Central Bank is not a money house, it is a bank of knowlege and the administerative heart of this city. Again I say, take me there."

He frowned, she had a bit of an attitude, he didn't like that at all, he gave her a look, "Listen lady, I just saved your ass, either show me some respect or perhaps I'll just hand you back over to your friends... My car is parked around the corner, we'll get it and I'll take you to this place you want to go, okay?"

She held her nose, metaphorically, and spoke again. "That will be acceptable," she said at last, "Let us go there now."

He helped her into his car, an older model car that he had procured specifically to blend in as a peasant, and then drove off once she had buckled up and he himself had buckled up.


He got to the first intersection, and asked, "Which way?"

She pointed, "Past the Glorious Arch, and then you'll see a marble building." Sure enough, it loomed into view. "Now," she said as they pulled up, "Listen carefully. You will have to ask to speak to a Mr Rathpeare, say that I sent you and that I need a E-111."

Conrad nodded his head, saying, "Yes ma'am." as he pulled up in front of the proper building.

He stepped out of the car, walked inside, asked for the man, and said what she had told him to say. He tapped his foot as he waited for the man to get to it.

A middle aged man with tawny brown hair walked up to him and began speaking jovially. "Mr Smith!" he cried, "Oh, tis an age! Here take these papers, I know that young master will be urgently awaiting them, and God speed sir, God speed." As he finished he handed him several forms, winked at him and turned upon his heel and was gone into the enveloping crowd.

He took the forms and was about to thank the man, but as quickly as he had appeared, he was gone... "Hmmm..." he said under his breath, as he turned and walked back to the car.


He got in and drove off as he handed her the forms, getting to the exit of the parking lot, he asked, "Which way now?"

She nodded, "The airport, we can be gone by the end of the day."

Conrad nodded his head and immediately headed for the airport, he then asked her, "Are you sure a public airport is a good idea? They might be looking for either of us? Perhaps we should use a private airport? I can have a plane waiting to meet us wherever you wish it to meet us at..."

She shook her head, "The papers that you recieved are worthless, you actually delivered a message setting in action a plan to extricate ourselves from here. You are to drive to port 51A and we will be ushered into the cargo hold. The pilot is working for me."

He nodded his head, "Worthless eh? A brilliant plan, by why didn't you tell me? Okay, never mind, let's just get to the port..."

She laughed gaily, "Of course I didn't tell you, I don't know who you are, you just waltzed into my life. I'm grateful of course, but I have many foes and you may well be one of them. I don't even know your name."

He frowned a bit, "I thought I told you already? Didn't I? My name is Conrad Thaller, the Duke of Wilkinson County, perhaps you have heard of a relative of mine, Dieter Thaller? At any rate, I was in the SRGIO and the MSAAS, but I do private contracting now, although rescuing you was something I did on my own, nobody hired me to do it."

She nodded to herself, "Many letters there. Why then did you come?"

He smiled, "Well you needed rescuing, and well... I am how shall we say, looking for a wife, somebody of noble birth who has a refined sense of taste, you being a duchess and I being a duke, the two seem to go together, don't they?"

She understood the logic and nodded, "Tell me about Wilkinson County" she said.

He started to answer, "Well... It's right on the border with Louisiana, it's warm, indeed I should say it's hot as heck, it can get to well over 105º in the summer months... Other than that, it's a very nice and quiet place, few peasants live there, mostly middle class professional workers and the nobles who own the companies they work at. It, like all other counties in Mississippi, has no mathematically significant risk of serious crime."


As he was talking, he turned down the road that would led right to the dock.

"Then out of nessesity I will marry you." Her face betrayed no emotion or excitement at this news. As the dock loomed into view, a massive and unwieldy cargo plane became apparant. "That," she grinned "Is our ticket out of here."

He frowned when he looked at the plane, "Hmmm, I see... Okay then, let's go get in shall we?"


He pulled up at the dock and shut the engine off.

"Yes," she replied as they climbed the gangway, "Should we fly straight to Mississipi?"

He nodded his head, "That would make sense wouldn't it, but it may be too obvious, perhaps we should first fly to Argentina, they're very pro-Fabus..."

She shook her head, "Once we leave Momanguise airspace they will not attempt to stop us. Killing a Mississipian would be considered to dangerous."

He nodded his head, "Then let us go directly to Mississippi, who is going to fly the plane though? Should I?"

"I have paid a man to fly us wherever we wish, on the condition that he keeps the plane. It is an odd arrangement I know, but a foolish one on his behalf, but as a simple peasant he accepted."

Conrad nodded his head, checked his guns, and other equipment, just in the event of an ambush, and then said, "Fine, let us go, let's get out of here...."

They boarded the plane. It was a bare affair, old cargo boxes littered the floor and what few strapped down chairs that there were appeared old and of a poor quality. She had a select few words with the pilot, and together they settled on the seating. "To Mississipi!" She declared, "And a new life!"

Conrad smiled as the plane started and got into the air, and then he gently kissed the duchess as he said, "And my soon to be wife..."

She kissed him back on the cheek. "You should know," she whispered "That I count love to be a childish toy, invented by peasants who have no other meaning in their wretched lives."

He nearly frowned, but forced himself to smile, as he asked, "So what is marriage for then? Just a political tool?"

She kissed him again, "Oh yes, and no at the same time! Marriage secures wealth, secures prosperity, secures status, surely you approve of that?"

He nodded his head, "Yes..." He then smiled, "But you left out one thing... Children."

She murmed in assent as she kissed him on the mouth, her eyes closed. "Yes children..." she muttered.

Conrad put both of his arms around her and pulled her closer to him as he kissed her back.


He suddenly wondered if they'd left Momanguise airspace yet, but figured the pilot would mention it when they had left.

As they embraced, the plane sped through the nights sky. An invisible border was crossed, the air space of Momanguise. They were away, they were free. The Duchess was still kissing Conrad, tongue entirtwined with his, oblivious to this development.

After several minutes had gone by, Conrad slowly broke the kiss by leaning out of it, he wondered where they were and he had to catch his breath...

He looked out the window and realized he couldn't even see land in the distance, looked forward and saw nothing as well.


He turned to the duchess, "It is quite likely we're out of Momanguise airspace by now, yes?"

She nodded as the ground fell away beneath them. It took five hours to reach Mississipii, and after much kissing and fondling they left plane.

He helped her off the plane and smiled as he gently took her hand and guided her to a waiting hangar, "This is where my cousin said he'd keep a car waiting for us in the event we left via airplane and landed at this airport... Shall we then?"

She graciously took his hand, "Thank you sir," she replied, letting him lead the way.

They got into the back of the limousine, the driver was just getting inside. There was another man getting in up front, a guard from Thaller Security Industries, sent by Dieter to make sure Conrad and the woman got to Wilkinson safely.



Conrad casually tapped a button that made the privacy window go up as he whispered in her ear, "It's a long ride to Wilkinson, want to see if we can't kill some time?"

"To die a death in a little room," was her encryptic reply, but as she threw herself onto him he couldn't have misinterpreted her intentions.

He proceeded to do just as she wanted, spending a good part of the ride with her on top of him.



When they finally arrived in Wilkinson about five hours later, she was sleeping on top of him, her head gently resting on his broad chest. He was asleep as well.


They were both stirred from their slumber when the driver tapped on the privacy window and then whispered over the intercom, "Sir, ma'am, we're here..."

A few weeks later, Conrad was sitting around a couch as the duchess was sitting in a nearby chair reading the local newspaper. He smiled at her and said, "Well dear, how have your first few weeks here been going?"

She shuffled round from a program on eugenics. "Oh marvellous darling," she drawled affectionately, "This diamond you brought me is simply gorgeous." As they talked, in the background a phone rang.

Conrad smiled at her and then kissed her lightly on the lips, "Only the best for you my dear, after all, you are a duchess remember, and deserve to be treated as such..."


He then walked over to the phone and answered it, "Hello, Thaller here, may I please ask who is calling?"

There was a tinned voice on the other end of the phone, and interferance from the inferior analoge system. "Hello mister Thaller, or should I say Guiscard? This is Momanguise calling, and we wish to have a conversation with you."

He sighed, "Yes, what about, make this fast... I am a rather busy man..."

There was a faint chuckle on the other end of the line, "And, Mister Thaller, you'll be much busier after we've finished with you. You are wanted on charges of espionage, kidnapping, rape and murder."

He smiled, "That peasant wench practically threw herself at me, your man was about to kill me and the duchess, a woman he was holding hostage, that killing was in self-defense. And as for the duchess herself, she willingly accompanied me to Mississippi. I'm sure you know my country will never extradite me, so don't waste your time. You'd have a better chance getting Israel to extradict a jew..."

He suddenly remembered something, "Wait, scratch that, there is no more Israel, why do I keep forgetting that? But you get the idea yes? You can't touch me..."

A thousand miles away, an MPSA operative smiled. "You know, we thourght that was what you'd say. And you in most cases correct. Except that we will not seek to excrate you." His mouth betrayed a ghoulish half smile as he dropped the bomshell subtely into the conversation.

"The 'peasant wench' is pregnant."

He shook his head, and sighed, "So what? She should be glad, it'll improve her social standing to bear the child of a Mississippian Duke... Besides, I'll send her some money to help her raise the child."

"You assume too much. Currently she is in our care, drugged up to her eyes and unaware of what's going on. You have contaminated her you see, her social standing is ruined forever. No, you come and face charges, or we will abort the baby."

Conrad chuckled, "Ah blackmail is the name of your game... What makes you think I care what happens with some peasant wench I never intended to see again?"

There was a pause as some papers were shuffled and a dossier examined. "You would sentance your own child to death?"

Conrad shrugged, "Meh, it's not really my child, it's a bastard that wouldn't even be of proper noble birth. Besides, it's just what, a few weeks old, a loose collection of cells, nothing even resembling a human beign yet, what do I care?"

"Then our files of Mississipian morality clearly need updating. You know that the Duchess is infertile?"

He shook his head, "No, that isn't true, I'm an exception of Mississippian morality, at least privately an exception... And what you're saying about her, I'm sure it isn't true..."


He put his hand over the phone and called the duchess over to him, whispering to her, "It is Momanguise Intelligence, calling, to, well, I'm sure just to harass us, but they say you're infertile, is that true?"

She shook her head violently, mouthing 'No' to him. On the other end of the line, the man chuckled. "Of course it's true, when we took her in we removed her ovaries. Do you honouestly think we would allow a corrupt 'dynasty', founded upon the flesh of some fascist whore?"

Conrad frowned and asked her again, "Tell me the truth, I can and will have a Mississippian doctor inspect you, I'd like to know, is that true, what he is saying?"

Again she shook her head, mouthing violently at him and made to seize the phone.

Conrad smiled, "Okay, I believe you..."

He then said into the phone, "You know I can disprove what you're saying in a matter of minutes, just by taking her to a doctor... Anyway, I believe her, you're just a lying communist piece of trash."

The man hissed at him, "And you'll be recieving a broken piece of sordid trashed flesh in the post Thaller. Watch your step, for we will not forgive what you have done to Momanguise." He then put the phone down, before doodling a gallows on Conrad Thallers dossier.

Thaller picked the phone back up, called Wilhelm Ernst in the DIS, and got the number of the man who had just called.


Conrad then promptly called the man right back, and said, "You listen here, I won't let you harm my child, do you hear me, just in nine months, just, well just send him or her alive and well to me in Mississippi, I'll pay you, how much do you want?"

The man snorted on the other end of the phone, "Mr Thaller, Conrad, please. We are not filthy capitalists here, we recognise the justice is worth more than any sum of money."

Thaller frowned, "Your men were holding the duchess a captive, they quite likely assaulted her, and I rescued her, how is that wrong?"

The man snapped back immediatly, "The man conserned was a criminal, and had he lived he would have been courtmartialed. Instead you killed him. Remember also that there are many other crimes you are wanted for, impersonation, decepted rape, the list goes on. The choice however is yours, we will come to some agreement as to the actual charges levelled against you, and you visit in nine months time. Agreeable?"

He shook his head, "No, not agreeable at all, I raped nobody, I have done nothing wrong, I would actually like you to come here and try me under Mississippian law, that would be agreeable."

"You used false information to obtain intercourse. Now, of course, we could drop that charge. However we have no intention to try you under Mississipian law because, of course, these crimes were commited on our soil."

He frowned, "I did no such thing, that woman threw herself at me, and I just took what was offered... As for the other charges, they're a joke..."


He turned back to the duchess, "They are telling me they're going to force some peasant woman I got pregnant to have an abortion unless I go back there to stand trial for killing that communist when I rescued you... I really don't care what they do with some peasant woman, and granted the child would be a bastard, but it's still my child, you know?"


He chuckled a bit, "She actually wanted me to marry her, of course that was never an option, nor would I lower myself by marrying somebody as low as her, I had no choice in sleeping with her though, they say I coerced her, she coerced me... She wouldn't tell me where you were being held..."

She stared at him with a expression of disbelief and interest. Her mouth sagged a little but still she said nothing, instead staring straight at him. The voice on the phone continued, "Mr Thaller? Are you there? It is up to the courts to decide your guilt or innocence, or wether the charges are 'jokes'. Do we have an understanding?"

Conrad whispered to her, "What do you think I should do?"

She turned away from him, considering. Eventually she turned to face him, "If you don't go, they will make it public that you fathered a bastard. I don't think I could live with that."

He nodded his head, "Hmmm... Good point, perhaps then I shouldn't go, or perhaps make certain stipulations if I do go? Anyway, do we really need a bastard child? We'll have children of our own, yes?"

She shrugged, "Oh yes darling, of course, though one more child is one less I have to actually give birth to isn't it?"

He nodded his head a bit, "Yes, of course, but realize that medical technology is such that here in Mississippi for woman or your standing, labor is often a lot easier than in other lands... Or at least it will be soon, they're working on ways to make it quite easier..."

She turned away again, determined to appear fixated on a documentary about racial segregation, though first she quipped, "It's your child, darling, not mine."

He shook his head, "You're soon to be my wife, we're getting married shortly, I value your opinion greatly and think you should give some input..."

She did not look at him, "Go then, if you must. You're house will still be standing when you return."

He shook his head, frowning a bit as he turned back to the phone, "You know, I don't think I'll be coming... What would you do about that, peasant?"

The man sat back, his eyebrows rising and falling as he contemplated his next move. He cast a glance at the poor girl incapacitated behind a one way mirror. "I will be getting myself a bottle of gin and a needle."

He sighed, he felt guilty about what he had done, Molech worshipper or not, he still had something of a conscience. He just couldn't leave that woman to suffer, peasant or no peasant...

After what seemed like three to five minutes of silence, but was only really twenty or seconds, he relented and said, "Fine... I'll go, but what are the terms? I won't stay in jail for any amount of time, nor will I submit to capital punishment."

The man immediately waved away the doctor he had summonded. He placed his hand over the mouth piece and wrote on a scrap of parchment, Snapped. Like a rat to a trape. He allowed himself a small chuckle, before turning back to the mouthpiece. "I gather that the Privy Council seeks only a public apology, though they may ask for," he paused, the quill flying over the mans file, "a payment of flesh."

He sighed, "Yes, yes, of course, how many lashes does that translate to?"

The man frowned, "Fifty at most I'd say. Nothing that will really harm you."

He shook his head, it was unacceptable for a man of his standing to be flogged, especially so many times... "No, less than half that, nothing more..."

The man answered in a gruff voice, "Please await my reply", before pressing a button and the tinny strains of The Red Flag Song filled the line. Around two minutes later, he picked up the phone and finished the song. "Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, we'll keep the red flag flying here." He gave a quick laugh, before recommencing on the topic. "Twenty five it is, and no lower."

He nodded his head, but he had to know one thing, "And as for the woman and my child? I at the very least will take possession of the child, and if the woman wants, and if my current wife is willing, the woman will live here with me."

There was rustle of paper and a scratching of a quill, before the mans gruff voice cut back in. "The child is yours. I have no need for the son of a fascist here. The woman however is a Momanguisian, she is a sister of our nation. She will remain, she will be redeemed and she will forget that she ever knew a man called 'Guiscard'."

Conrad sighed, "Fine, that's fair, yes... When can we get this over with?"

There was an audible sigh, "Come in eight months, you can take your child back with you."

He nodded his head, "Yes, of course... But what about the woman, what will happen with her?"

The mans reply sounded almost like a murmer over the crackling of the old anolgue line, "That is our concern sir, not yours. God buy you sir, for now. We will speak again."

He hung up the phone and then turned around to go find the duchess. She was in another room, admiring his art collection, large statues of owls, paintings of an "All-seeing" eye, a few more paintings of owls, finally a large skeleton on a dead horse, riding out to terrorize peasants.

He called out to her, "Ah, do you like them?"

She barely heard him, as she was standing in front of the great all seeing eye, and she raised a hand as if to touch something tangible in it's gaze. She whispered not for secrecy but for awe, and with a faint tinge of excitment in her voice she said, "It's hypnotic, and so beautiful."

He walked up behind her and kissed her on the back of the neck as he gently rubbed her shoulders. After a few seconds he whispered, "My cousin, Dieter, he is head of the Illuminati, perhaps someday, you will be inducted into the organization? I am high up in it, you know..."

She turned and stared in his eyes, before leaning forward and planting a single kiss on his cheek. She whispered "Tell me about the illuminati" softly in his ear.

He grinned, "Yes, of course... Well, we run things, we run much of the events in the world, from behind the scenes of course. Here in the Mississippian Federation our power rests in the Mississippian National Domestic Advisory Cmmittee, often called the Committe of Three... We have many front groups, we appear on the outside to be pious Christians, but it's just a show, we truly believe in the power of Molech."

The last word sent a shiver down her spine. She had heard the word, memories of whispered secrets, guilty looks, and owl tatoos on the wrists of people would had helped evade the authorities of Momanguise. She took his hand, and sat down as she took in the news. Molech, it sounded almost like a dirty word, but one full of promise, power, and pleasure. She had made up her mind, and looking him in the eyes she asked, "What do I have to do?"

He grinned, thrilled that he'd found a woman, a noblewoman, to share in his religion and his values, his secrets, an illuminatess. He shook his head, "Nothing, except pledge yourself to our lord, Molech, and willingly give yourself, totally become devoted to the Illuminati... One day perhaps, we may rule it together, my cousin is in his eighties and won't live forever, and he has no heir apparent."

She beamed at him, a rare show of true affection. "Molech has my soul", she whispered, "But you have my heart."

He grinned as he took her into his arms, whispering back to her, "Shall we go upstairs?"

She placed her arms around his neck, "That would be wonderful", she said.

Conrad proceeded to carry her upstairs, asking along the way, "So, my duchess, are you looking forward to your first meeting with the Illuminati?"

She giggled, she was actually excited by the thourght. "Almost," she planted a kiss on his forehead, "As excited as I am now."

Conrad kissed her back, lightly on the lips, and then said, "I can't wait to make you an illuminatess, it will be wonderful... And..." He grinned, "Perhaps one day my cousin Dieter will make me leader and together we can rule the Illuminati."

She kissed him on the lips, "Take me now Conrad".

He obliged her, not even taking the time to finish carrying her to the bedroom, taking her as she wanted, right then and there.


After he had finished the deed, he had a large grin on his face as he asked her, "Well, did you enjoy that?"

Her smile was equally in measure, and she obliged him with a tantalising wink. "I enjoyed that," she mused at him, "As I would the sight of Molech in all his glory." She paused, before taking Conrads hand and placing it on her stomach. Her smile vanished as she looked him in the eye, and the words trickled out with absloute seriousness, "I can also give you what you want." she said.

Conrad smiled as she moved his hand over her stomach. He nodded his head as he said, "Yes, that would be wonderful..."